Hey Guys

Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all the hard work you’ve shared with our organization and especially with the youth that we serve. Also, I would like to say WELCOME to our Fall/Winter Cycle Production Blog. This blog will serve as a place to provide updates, brainstorm and share ideas, challenges, hopes and dreams. This past Tuesday, October 19^th, 2010 we had our first (of many) all youth/all staff focus group to brainstorm, discuss and identify a social justice theme, which will serve as the topic/inspiration for our production that will be taking place January 20^th 2010.

Based on conversations with staff, we agreed upon a structure: start with the game “where the wind blows”, using intentionally loaded statements to get our youth thinking about relevant social justice issues. Questions included:

“The wind blows for…..”

-Anyone who has seen a drug deal happening in your neighborhood

-Anyone who has been harassed by the police for no reason

-Anyone who has been bullied in school

-Anyone who has been followed around by security in a store

-Anyone who has waited at least 20 minutes for an MBTA bus

-Anyone who feels like adults don’t understand

-Anyone who feels like they just don’t belong

-Anyone who has to really think about what they are wearing before leaving the house

-Anyone who has been a part of or has seen violence in school

One of the strongest reflection points after this exercise is when Stephen Richardson, our Latin Percussion Instructor asked the kids, “Now, was there anyone who did not move for any of those questions?” A dull roar of “nos”, “nopes” and “not mes” followed, I think at that point, the youth started to understand that each one of them face the same problems on a daily basis, but may not realize it. We broke up into six groups, each lead by a staff member. We were all given the same directions:

1. Come up with one word, phrase, or social justice issue that affects everyone in your group. This will be the subject matter of your writing.
2. Based on your subject matter, decide who your audience should be. Is it your community? The principle at your school? Your parents? As a group do some writing (could be a poem, could be a letter, could be song) with specific examples of how your subject matter has affected your lives and offer solutions or suggestions on how you think it can be changed, made better, or improved upon.

Responses included:

-prejudice and stereotypes based on race

-the need for tobacco prevention

-pressure of dressing a certain way

-terrible experiences on the bus 

-offering constructive advice to friends without being judged for being “good”

The staff and I met up afterwards to reflect and discuss where to go from there. After talking about how each staff member/group leader structured their conversation with their youth we reviewed subject matter of each writing sample. One of the strongest pieces of writing was addressed to the MBTA, outlining specific examples of bad experiences on the bus. This immediately struck a chord in our minds. Historically, the bus has served as the setting for many monumental acts of courage and defiance, most notably, Rosa Parks in 1955. Metaphorically, the bus can be seen as a vehicle for change. You can see it (Visual Arts). You can hear it (Latin Percussion). It moves (Dance). It also serves as a setting, waiting for it, getting on it, to and from work, school, and home (Theater).

And that’s where we stand. I feel like everyone is very excited about the idea of our production being set around the idea of a bus and I am very much looking forward to hearing more, further flushing the idea out, and pouring some creative energy into making something great.

You guys are awesome.

Keep up the good fight.

Casey.